NEW YORK: Musician Grimes has sparked controversy after expressing her support for fellow artist Lizzo, who is currently facing allegations of sexual harassment from three of her ex-dancers. Grimes’s endorsement of Lizzo’s character and behavior has drawn criticism from social media users and ignited a debate over loyalty, privilege, and the importance of believing survivors.
In a tweet posted on Sunday, Grimes stated, “I love Lizzo. Not saying I don’t believe ppl when bad things happen, but I had dancers mistreated on my watch in ways I didn’t find out about until way later. Mebe [sic] s—t is bad.” She continued by emphasizing the value of loyalty, recounting instances where Lizzo had shown kindness to her during challenging times.
Grimes further defended Lizzo in a subsequent tweet, sharing, “Lizzo was nice to me before elon when she blew up and I was still indie as f—k. She was nice to me in like 2012 before anyone cared abt [sic] either of us.” She described Lizzo’s support during periods of difficulty and stated her respect for Lizzo’s character.
Social Media Users Criticize Grimes
However, Grimes’s comments faced swift backlash from users who criticized her for overlooking the allegations against Lizzo and for using her own positive experiences to dismiss potential victims’ claims. Some users accused Grimes of being out of touch with the reality of power dynamics and of dismissing the concerns of survivors.
One critic commented, “Grimes it’s because you’re rich and wealthy and have influence, Lizzo is a classist abuser who doesn’t believe people ‘on her level’ deserve respect.” Another user dismissed Grimes’s perspective, stating, “lol grimes you’re so over. just because your experience with someone was great (probably due to your relations and fame) it doesn’t mean people didn’t have bad experiences with Lizzo.”
Despite the backlash, some users appreciated Grimes for standing up for a friend. A supporter stated, “publicly defending your friends against unsubstantiated rumors when you’re guaranteed rebuking for doing so is brave and loyal. lots of respect.”
The controversy has ignited a broader conversation about the role of celebrity endorsements, loyalty, and addressing allegations of misconduct in the entertainment industry.
Lizzo has not responded directly to Grimes’s comments or the allegations, which have prompted discussions about the importance of listening to and supporting survivors, regardless of personal relationships or prior experiences.
